SAN JOSE — A man was arrested this week in connection with over 50 smash-and-grab cash register burglaries at South Bay businesses over the past year, including some where the brazen break-ins were captured on camera, according to San Jose police.

Dating back to February 2021, police said detectives have investigated at least 35 commercial burglaries in San Jose where a man would smash the front window of business using a solid object resembling a brick or rock, then make off with the register.

At least 20 such burglaries were reported in Milpitas during the same time frame, police said. Some of the break-ins were captured in clear visual detail by security cameras, including a Jan. 12 instance at a restaurant in South San Jose.

The investigation, which was conducted with Milpitas police, led to the arrest Monday of 43-year-old Andrew Deanda at a home off Monterey Road and Branham Lane, authorities said.

Deanda was booked into the Elmwood men’s jail on suspicion of 44 counts of burglary, nine counts of felony vandalism, grand theft and assorted misdemeanors. He was being held without bail.

“Our exceptional detectives showed their continued tenacity in identifying and arresting another suspect who was victimizing our community,” San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata said in a statement. “This prolific burglar targeted small businesses who were also affected by the pandemic.”

Sgt. Christian Camarillo, a department spokesman, said Deanda is suspected of committing numerous more burglaries.

“These are just what have been confirmed, but he’s being looked at for many more,” Camarillo said.

Anyone with information about the burglaries can contact Detective Matthew Gach at 408-277-4401 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org.

Source: www.mercurynews.com